The Honorable Astrid Willa Eide Hoem, State Secretary of the Ministry of Climate and Environment,
Your Excellencies,
Dear Compatriots,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
God kveld! Good evening!
I am delighted to gather together with you to celebrate the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy, I would like to extend our warmest welcome to you, and express our heartfelt gratitude to friends from all walks of life who have long cared for and supported China and China-Norway relations. I would also like to send my warmest festive greetings and best wishes to our compatriots in Norway.
This auspicious year coincides with the 105th anniversary of the Communist Party of China. For over a century, the CPC has stayed true to its founding mission — striving for the well-being of the Chinese people, for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and for the common good of the world. Through concerted hard work, the CPC has led the Chinese people in achieving national independence and lifting nearly 800 million people out of poverty. We have created the twin miracles of rapid economic growth and long-term social stability, and made significant contributions to world peace and development.
The 77-year odyssey of New China offers us profound enlightenment. The monumental triumphs have been forged through the self-reliance and industrious work of the Chinese people; they are neither a free ride on the coattails of others, nor a patronizing handout from anyone. At the same time, China’s development has also been achieved through mutually beneficial cooperation with the world. Precisely because of this, no force can halt the Chinese people from forging ahead, and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation stands as an unstoppable historical certainty. A stable, open, and progressive China will continue to provide the world with new opportunities.
Looking to the future, China will remain a powerful engine of the world economy. In the first half of this year, China’s GDP grew by 4.7% year-on-year. We maintained steady growth on a massive economic foundation, which marks a promising start for the 15th Five-Year Plan for Social and Economic Development. Our economic structure is getting better, and high-level opening-up continues to expand with a strong momentum. In the first eight months of 2026, China’s imports of goods grew by 22%, and more than 40,000 foreign companies launched new operations in China. Openness, cooperation and mutual benefit have always been China’s consistent choice. We will ensure that our high-quality development will deliver more benefits to the world in terms of market, innovation, and growth.
Looking to the future, China will continue to contribute to global development. Development is an eternal theme of human society and the ultimate key to the well-being of the people. In 2021, President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Development Initiative to accelerate the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Over the past five years, China has mobilized over U.S.$23 billion in funding, and launched more than 2,000 international cooperation projects, delivering tangible benefits to people in over 120 countries.
China will continue to expand input in global development, and deepen cooperation in poverty reduction, food security, green development, and the digital economy. Facing rapid development of artificial intelligence, we must not allow anyone to add an “AI divide” to the existing “digital divide.”
As the largest developing country and a proud member of the Global South, China will work with all parties to uphold the people-centered philosophy, jointly drive further the Global Development Initiative, and turn the grand vision of sustainable development into a tangible, accessible reality for all.
Looking to the future, China will always firmly safeguard the international order. The world is undergoing drastic changes. Facing an increasing deficit in global governance, President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) one year ago, highlighting five core values -- sovereign equality, international rule of law, multilateralism, a people-centered approach, and real actions.
China is steadily advancing these principles. The International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) has formally commenced operations. The World Data Organization (WDO) and the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) have been established in China. Furthermore, at the UN Climate Change Summit, China announced its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) targets for 2035.
China will work with all countries to defend even more firmly the UN-centered international system and the world order based on international law, and build a community with a shared future for humanity based on our common values — peace, development, equity, justice, democracy, and freedom.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Over the past few days, the world has followed closely President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the United States. This was President Xi's third overseas visit within a short span of just one month. These visits fully demonstrate the far-reaching strategic vision and statesmanship of the Chinese leadership in embracing a community with a shared future for humanity. They also highlight China's willingness to step forward to shoulder its responsibilities as a major country.
During the visit, President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump had candid and in-depth exchanges of views on strategic and overarching questions concerning China-U.S. relations and global trends in an atmosphere of mutual respect and friendship. They reached eight-point deliverables, including agreeing to build “a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability based on respect, fairness and reciprocity,” and recalling that China and the United States were World War II allies fighting side by side to win the war.
The visit has sent out a positive signal that both sides are moving in the same direction to pursue peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation to the benefit of the two countries and the world as a whole. Bearing in mind the expectations of the peoples and the trend of the time, China is ready to work with the United States to explore the right way for major countries to get along well with each other, and make due contributions to world peace and development.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Despite the shifting dynamics on the international landscape, China-Norway relations have been in good shape in recent years. We have maintained close high-level exchanges, and our political mutual trust has been steadily consolidated. Both sides have productively implemented the important consensus reached by our leaders. In the first half of this year, bilateral trade grew by 27.6% year-on-year, and Norway’s seafood exports to China increased by 31% year-on-year. China is now Norway’s second-largest market for seafood exports and its largest trading partner in Asia.
The dialogue on green transition mechanism has emerged as a vital platform for China-Norway cooperation in this new era. We have continued to enhance our traditional cooperation in maritime and shipping industries, while unlocking fresh opportunities in trade, services, and cultural exchanges. Green and blue have truly become the defining colors of our bilateral cooperation.
These achievements have been possible because both sides have stayed true to the original aspiration at the establishment of their diplomatic relations. We respect each other, treat each other as equals, and pursue win-win cooperation. They have also been possible because we share a broad consensus on upholding the international order, international rule of law, and multilateralism.
In the future, China looks forward to working with Norway to safeguard the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, advocate multilateralism and free trade, tackle climate change and other global challenges, and protect our beautiful planet.
As China-Norway relations continue to move forward, I am deeply honored to be appointed by President Xi Jinping as the Ambassador of China to the Kingdom of Norway. Over the past three weeks, I have met with many friends across various sectors in Norway. I feel keenly the warm hospitality of the Norwegian people and their high expectations for our relations. I feel a profound sense of responsibility. And I am very confident in the future of our bilateral relations.
As the Norwegian saying goes, “En god venn er gull verdt” — a true friend is as precious as gold. I stand ready to engage in deep dialogues with all people in Norway to understand more about each other, carry forward our traditional friendship, explore new ways and areas for cooperation, and deliver more benefits to the peoples of both nations and the world at large.
Now, please join me in a toast:
To the prosperity of the People’s Republic of China and the well-being of the Chinese people,
To the prosperity of the Kingdom of Norway and the well-being of the Norwegian people,
To the friendship between China and Norway,
To the peace and development across the world, and
To the good health of all the guests and friends today!
Skål!